Morning Blooms
I suppose it makes sense that my first post on this blog is a fic. I did not expect it to be Merlin of all things, but I re-watched a few random episodes to escape finals stress and could not get it out of my brain.
Sir Leon x Reader (Gender Neutral)
Warnings: None
Summary: During a visit to Camelot after a long time away, you are reunited with your lover Sir Leon.
Sunlight streamed through the window, warming the spot where you sat combing out your hair. You had arrived in Camelot late yesterday evening —there as an emissary for a neighboring kingdom— and looked forward to the visit ahead.
Being from a noble family in a kingdom closely allied with the Pendragons meant that you had visited Camelot quite frequently in the past, as both child and adult, but it had been several years now since your last trip and you were eager to see the faces of old friends.
A knock on the chamber door broke you from your contemplation, and you called a gentle “come in,” before turning to watch a servant enter. She carried a polished serving tray in one hand and, to your surprise, a vase full of flowers in the other.
“Good morning,” she greeted with a respectful curtsy, “I have your breakfast here, as well as flowers I was instructed to deliver.”
“Thank you,” you replied, standing to make your way toward the table. You stopped at the spot where she had set the flowers, taking a moment to marvel at the delicate blooms—a cluster of white daisies with splashes of blue forget-me-nots mixed in. “Who sent these?” You asked, glancing up at the maidservant who had just finished laying out breakfast.
“They’re from Sir Leon, my liege.”
Sir Leon. You bit back the smile that tugged at your lips, looking back down at the flowers.
“I believe there is a note as well,” she added, gesturing to the parchment that you hadn’t yet noticed tied to a stem. “Is there anything else I can get you, my liege?”
“No, thank you,” you shook your head, and with another curtsy the maid departed. As soon as the door had closed behind her, you reached down and tugged the note free, smoothing the scrap of parchment against the table.
I’m sorry I could not greet you when you arrived last night, though I hope to make it up to you. Meet me at noon at our spot.
Now you really couldn’t stop the smile that spread across your face. Two years was far too long to have been away, and your stomach fluttered at the thought of Leon wanting to see you as much as you wanted to see him.
You ate your breakfast quickly, though you knew it would be several hours before Leon would be there to meet you. You could only pray that the time would fly by.
The two of you had never officially courted, but all of his fellow knights —and quite a few others besides— were well aware of the romantic feelings that existed between you. It had happened several years past when your kingdom was renewing its treaties with Camelot; you’d found yourself spending quite a bit of time here, assisting your Queen in the negotiations. You had met Leon before, but this time he’d been assigned to protect you when a threat was made against the new treaty, and as a result you’d grown quite close.
You could hardly wait to see him again, and when noon finally rolled around you practically skipped down to the place where you were set to meet. Your ‘spot’ —as he had written in the note— was an old oak that spread its branches over a secluded castle courtyard. You and he had spent many hours there, any time during your visits that you’d both had a free moment, and it had become a place quite dear to your heart.
Now, as you neared the door that would lead you out into that familiar courtyard, you slowed your pace. As you got closer and closer, a hint of nervousness wormed its way through you—what if something had changed between you in the time you’d been away? You knew Leon to be incredibly loyal, but it had been a long two years and you feared that perhaps he’d finally lost interest. The door before you stood ajar, and stepping up to it you peeked through to the courtyard beyond.
There, under the sprawling oaken branches, stood Leon. His curls fluttered in the breeze, and from his shoulders cascaded the bright crimson cloak of the Knights of Camelot. At the sight of him, all your previous doubts were swept away. You were brought back to the warm days spent in this very spot, laughing, talking, wondering at the future. Where he stood now, you could see him shifting back and forth, scuffing his feet against packed earth —A nervous habit. You almost chuckled at the thought that perhaps he was just as nervous as you were.
As quietly as you could manage, you pushed the door wide enough to slip through and entered into the courtyard. Here, the sun filtered in patches through the leaves of the oak, and only the faintest breeze reached down to tousle your hair. Creeping closer, you did your best to school your face into a neutral expression.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
The knight jumped, spun to face you, then immediately broke into a grin. Rushing to meet you, he opened his arms and you quickly fell into his embrace.
It was the warmest, most comforting hug you’d had in two years.
“I missed you,” he said quietly, words meant just for you.
“I missed you too,” you told him, wrapping your arms tighter around his waist.
As seconds stretched to minutes, the two of you stayed wrapped in each other’s arms, silently making up for far too much time spent apart. Finally, you gently pulled away.
“I’m sorry I was gone for so long, the Queen has been calling on me more than ever.” Leon just shook his head, face still lit by a warm smile.
“I understand, you have your duty as I have mine.” After he spoke, Leon took a long moment to look you up and down, as if checking to make sure you weren’t going to disappear. Though you were no longer hugging each other, his hands stayed on your arms, reluctant to break contact completely.
“You look amazing,” he finally commented, looking back into your eyes. You could feel the heat creeping into your face then, and marveled at the fact that the handsome knight could still make you blush so easily.
“I could say the same to you,” you managed to get out, reaching up a hand to brush a curl from his forehead.
Just then, voices drifted out from the corridor behind you, and both you and Leon glanced back, watching to make sure no one was coming out into the courtyard. You didn’t really have to hide your relationship, and certainly didn’t make much of an effort to do so, but this was a private moment; considering that fact that you’d not yet entered into any sort of official courtship, it wasn’t entirely proper to be meeting in secret like this.
When the voices had passed, Leon returned his gaze to you.
“How long do you have?” When he asked, you could hear a hint of apprehension as he wondered whether you would soon be whisked away to attend important political matters.
“All day,” you replied, and the way his face brightened, it was as if the sun itself had come out from behind the clouds. “I don’t have any court matters until late this evening, I was hoping to spend the day with you,” you confessed.
“I would love that,” his words came as a breathless whisper, and soon he was leaning in, lips just barely brushing yours. You closed the remaining space, and the kiss was so sweet and gentle, you practically melted into his arms.
Two years was far too long, but now you were back with your love, and you had all the time in the world.